Zimmerman Transforms Ethereal Boho for Fall 2025
The Zimmerman Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection, Hypnotic, took inspiration from the cult film by Peter Weir, “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” to create a contemporary fashion narrative that transformed ethereal innocence into mysterious chic. Bringing us feminine boho with a chic twist, Zimmerman’s collection descends into darker, more contrasting pieces as each look passes by. With subtle notes of romance, this collection took a unique approach to the rise of the boho-chic aesthetic that is taking over the 2025 Paris Fashion Week.
This collection balances traditional western with delicate femininity. Fluid, long lace dresses and two-piece sets took over the beginning of this collection. A variety of textures and materials were progressively incorporated into this collection, such as chiffon, leather, satin, fur, crochet, lace, and denim. Layering, including long coats with peeking textures, was used as well to create variety between each look. As the collection neared its end, the looks became more contrasting, rigid, and elaborate.
This contrast appeared as the looks became progressively darker with more variety, introducing snakeskin prints and meticulously placed pops of color. Over time, the weight of each look moved from fluid and natural to rigid and distinct. For example, the chiffon in the earlier looks was bouncy and flowed at the ends of long dresses; however, towards the end, it was sewn into more distinct, top-heavy silhouettes. This goes hand in hand with the color palette, as the neutral tones begin to fade out.
Romance played a part in this collection, both subtly and abruptly. In Zimmerman’s seventh look, you can see red hearts hidden among the chiffon on the ends of the blouse’s sleeves. In contrast to this subtlety, there were two striking red moments, both placed later in the collection, in between neutrally toned looks. These two fully red, satin dresses were intentionally bold, bringing depth and contrast to this collection, playing into the descent of contrast and edge.
Styling the models with a wide variety of hair textures, lengths, and a mixture of updos created a variety and balance with the differing textures and prints among the looks. Snakeskin print was incorporated in a handful of the pieces. The models wore a variety of footwear, including riding boots, heels, and flats. Instead of mixing metals as well, sticking to only gold jewelry and embellishments brought warmth to the collection, heating up the runway as we enter the cooler season.
Concluding the collection were two identical and elaborate sets, both solid colors, first black, then followed by cream. In addition, both models had similar hairstyles, with the colors matching each look. These sets are textured with floral shapes covering sheer, bold, hourglass silhouettes. They are structured and powerful, with strong shoulders, contrasting with the smooth, innocent, and free looks in the beginning. This is symbolic of the transformation throughout this collection.
Hypnotic embodies Paris Fashion Week's trend of boho-chic with a contemporary approach, using each look to show the decline of innocence, paralleling Peter Weir’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” beautifully. Zimmerman did an exceptional job of maintaining artistic expression in a Ready-to-Wear collection.
Rising Designers Ripped Off
Big Fashion Brands Are Stealing Emerging Designers’ Hard Work
Imagine being a fashion student, working late nights, pouring your energy, passion, and time into a design that will finally launch you into your career. You finish the project and can’t hold back your excitement as you post it on your small but growing social media account. A few weeks later, you are scrolling through Instagram only to see your unique design as part of a fast fashion brand’s new campaign. No credit, no tag, no explanation.
This kind of theft is more common in the fashion industry than many admit. Amelia Bedoya, an emerging fashion designer at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), believes she experienced this firsthand when participating in a design contest with Puma.
Bedoya and her friends signed up as a group to redesign the Speedcat, one of Puma’s most iconic sneakers. While the prize wasn't officially disclosed, Bedoya said the professors told them it would be a trip to the Puma HQ in Boston and possibly having their design come to life.
Although Bedoya and her team entered this contest with high hopes, they were told their design wasn’t right for Puma. Bedoya says that the weird part about it is that throughout the competition, the Puma design team expressed their satisfaction with their work. In contrast, when deciding who won, the judges provided them with negative feedback, claiming their designs were not what they were looking for.
Months after the competition, the ASAP Rocky-Puma collab came out and was focused on the speedcat. One of the t-shirts featured a design that closely resembled a design from Bedoya and her team’s sneaker. Two of the colorways used in this launch were ones that Bedoya had proposed and gotten negative feedback for during critique. The winner of the competition did not even get their design produced, they only received 75$ and a Puma pin. “I felt really frustrated and dumb for trusting that Puma supposedly wanted to give us industry exposure,” Bedoya says.
Since major fashion brands are legally protected, small designers become an easy target. Bedoya checked the contract with a lawyer to see what she could do, but was told she could only call them out on social media. Left with no proof but her word, she posted on Instagram about it, tagging Puma and SCAD fashion design. “I got no response or reaction.”
When designers like Amelia come forward, they not only seek justice for themselves but also bring awareness to the much larger issue. It has emerging designers wondering if it is unsafe to share their work due to the rise of design theft in the fashion industry. Is the potential risk worth the reward?
The fashion industry is becoming a place where some emerging designers are too scared to engage in possible opportunities, fearing that they will be taken advantage of, as Bedoya believes Puma did with her design. “I think it's important to tell this story so fellow students don’t partake in ‘industry opportunities’ blindly,” Bedoya says. “People in the industry aren't inherently kind and trying to give you opportunities. You must stay diligent and know what you are getting yourself into.” Bedoya’s advice should not be a motive for fear, but a motive to stay aware and protect your work.
Coachella Called: They Want Their Look Back
Boho Chic is officially back, and it’s more effortless, expressive, and stylish than ever. This round of boho chic embraces flowy silhouettes that complement small shorts and skirts, delicate sheer fabrics, and earthy neutral tones that contrast with a new pop of black. This trend embraces a modern twist on boho, bringing in statements such as studs, big boots, wedges, and of course, suede and fringe details are a key staple of boho chic.
Inspired by the iconic looks of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, today’s boho revival has a modern edge. Seen on SS25 runways from Ralph Lauren to Zimmermann, everybody has been riding this trend. The most iconic brands embodying boho chic are Chloe and Isabel Marant, and they have been knocking the ball out of the park with spot-on, nostalgic lines reimagined. Isabel Marant has even brought back Kate Moss, an icon of boho chic, for their digital campaigns.
A big factor in the rise of boho chic is Coachella culture, typically known for its boho chic vibes and outfits. Over the years, the Coachella style has lost its way, following micro trends and tacky looks. Everybody has collectively decided to take back Coachella this year, bringing back the traditional boho chic aesthetic and reclaiming it as a whole.
While boho chic itself is a trend, the cultural impact that brought it back is how creativity and individuality are on the rise. Given the lockdown from Covid, stresses from Global Issues, and the current situation with politics, it is no surprise that an aesthetic that is free-spirited and shuns structure, especially focusing on being in touch with sustainability and the earth, is making a comeback. Boho chic is back, and it is for those who want to reclaim freedom and individuality.
